Fourth Grade Orchestra Returns To Head O’ Meadow

By Larissa Lytwyn

In the aftermath of an approximate $1.4 million cut to its proposed 2003-04 education budget, the Board of Education was forced to curtail several district programs, including fourth grade orchestra.

Although the program was not reinstated for the 2004-05 school year, Head O’ Meadow Elementary School parents Jaime McCleary and Lisa Swain spearheaded an effort to bring orchestra back to the school’s fourth graders.

“A small group of fourth grade parents got together and decided to really try to push for this program to come back,” Ms McCleary said. “Our principal [Bill Bircher] was very supportive of the idea.”

The school recently instituted a pay-to-play orchestral program that currently involves about 26 fourth graders.

Students can choose to play the violin, viola, or cello. Instruments must be privately rented or purchased. For a half-hour before school once a week, in groups of three to five, students meet with Reed Intermediate School orchestra instructor Jill Marak for lessons.

Classes will continue now until the end of the school year in June.

“We really wanted to get the word out about this program to show parents and faculty at the town’s other elementary schools that it is possible to have one,” said Ms McCleary, whose fourth grader, Cameron, is learning the violin. “It’s a great opportunity for the students; the kids really enjoy it!”

Cameron said he became interested in the opportunity to play a stringed instrument through the encouragement of several of his friends.

“I just thought it was a cool idea,” he said.

Ms McCleary noted that the program was now something third graders can look forward to trying.

Ms Marak said there was a lot of value with students beginning the orchestra program at younger ages. “It definitely allows them to progress more quickly, and become stronger players,” she said.

Fourth grader Andre Ruscoe said his interest in the violin began after he saw a neighbor play it. “I liked the way it looked and sounded,” he said. “I wanted to do it, too.”

Another student, Tim Eames, said he originally had wanted to learn how to play the guitar.

“My father encouraged me to learn the violin first, because it was easy to learn and would get me [acquainted] with a string-type instrument,” he explained

Fourth grader Troy Larsen agreed.

“I wanted to learn how to play [the violin] because I’ve heard it’s the simplest string instrument to learn,” he said.

At the fourth grade level, orchestra students are just beginning to learn the basics of their instruments.

Students learn everything from identifying basic chords and proper bow handling to mastering beginners’ pieces such as “Hot Cross Buns.”

“I love this age group,” said Ms Marak, who said she had taught the Newtown fourth grade program at certain points in the past. “The kids are really fresh and eager to learn. I’ve missed [teaching the program].”